How organized labor shames its traitors − the story of the ‘scab’

It’s too reductive to simply smear scabs as sellouts. It’s important to understand why some workers might be motivated to weather scorn, rejection and even violence from their peers.

By: Ian Afflerbach, University of North Georgia, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 8, 2026

Words: 1,457

Last Updated: 1 week, 3 days ago

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By Ian Afflerbach, University of North Georgia

Over its long history, the American labor movement has displayed a remarkably rich vocabulary for shaming those deemed traitors to its cause.

Some insults, such as “blackleg,” are largely forgotten today. Others, such as “stool pigeon,” now sound more like the dated banter of film noir. A few terms still offer interesting windows into the past: “Fink,” for example, was used to disparage workers who informed …

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